Culver City chiropractor found beaten to death in Palms area office

LOS ANGELES - Homicide detectives today were investigating the beating death of a chiropractor found on the floor of his office in the Palms area after an apparent robbery.

Robert Rainey, 54, of Culver City was found around 8:15 a.m. Thursday at his chiropractic office in the 9200 block of Venice Boulevard, near Robertson Boulevard, said Officer Bruce Borihanh of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Robert Rainey, 54, of Culver City was found around 8:15 a.m. Thursday at his chiropractic office in the 9200 block of Venice Boulevard, near Robertson Boulevard, (Google Map (click on map to enlarge))

The victim is the brother of Los Angeles Times reporter James Rainey and a son of the late actor Ford Rainey.

A patient arrived at the office for a scheduled appointment just after 8 a.m. and saw Rainey, who owned and practiced in the office, lying on the floor, Borihanh said.

The police officers who responded to the grim discovery arrived to find the body on the floor inside the location, Borihanh said. "The victim had suffered severe head trauma and was transported to a local hospital."

Rainey, who police described as an assault victim, was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at the hospital.

"This doctor seems to be very well known by the community, had no enemies, his employees liked him, so there is no known motive for this crime," LAPD Detective John Radtke told CBS2.

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Police said Rainey had a broken jaw and missing teeth when he was found, according to CBS2, which said investigators were looking at robbery as a possible motive because Rainey's wallet was missing.

"Detectives are treating this investigation as a homicide," Borihanh said. "The motive behind this crime is unknown, and there are no suspects at this time."

Police urged anyone with information regarding the homicide to contact the LAPD West Bureau Homicide Unit at (213) 382-9470 or (877) LAPD-24-7.